Wrestling: Blue Hawks show fight in loss to perennial power Timberlane

EXETER — The Exeter High School wrestling team is still searching for its first win of the season, but it can take solace in this — one of the best teams in the state came away impressed on Wednesday night.

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By RYAN O'LEARY

seacoastonline.com

By RYAN O'LEARY

Posted Jan. 4, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By RYAN O'LEARY
Posted Jan. 4, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

EXETER — The Exeter High School wrestling team is still searching for its first win of the season, but it can take solace in this — one of the best teams in the state came away impressed on Wednesday night.

"Exeter is much better this year," said Barry Chooljian, the coach of undefeated Timberlane. "They're really putting out some nice bodies, and some of their upper-weights are pretty good. I absolutely see them turning the corner, and I'm glad to see it. Exeter's important for Division I."

The positive signs, though, were sprinkled between the cracks of a 63-10 loss to the deep and powerful Owls, who improved to 5-0 on the season. The Blue Hawks moved to 0-5, getting little on the scoreboard outside of Ross Dannar's six-point pin in the 160-pound match.

"I think it's a lot of intimidation when people face them," Dannar said of the Owls. "So I was trying to keep a level head."

That was easier said than done for Exeter's captain.

Dannar wrestled with so much aggressiveness, he apologized to his opponent after executing his third-period pin.

"Fortunately, and unfortunately, I got really angry before I got out there," Dannar said. "Just (off the mat) problems that shouldn't be happening. That's why I wrestled the way I did. I apologized to the kid after.

"I usually go for an armbar and grab the wrist and then just drive it over," he added of his technique. "It's really simple and it's always there. That's how I ended up pinning him."

Exeter's only points outside of Dannar was junior David Burke's 14-6 decision at 170 pounds. The Hawks were close at other weight classes — like senior Jesse Moffett's one-point loss in overtime at 220.

"We have a core group of guys, four or five kids, who have been with me since I first started four years ago," Exeter coach Greg Dussol said of the team's progress. "It's nice to see where they've come from to where they are now. I think it is a good direction."

One of Exeter's best performances came in a defeat. Jeffrey King, Exeter's second-year wrestler at 182 pounds, pushed Timberlane state champion Harry Denoncourt to the wire in a 7-4 decision.

"(Denoncourt) I think is expected to or favored to win states," Dussol said. "So the fact that (King) was competitive in that match was good to see. He's been getting better every day."

The Blue Hawks were less competitive in other areas, though. They had to take a pair of forfeits, and a handful of matches ended in quick, first-period pins.

"We have a pretty good dual-meet team this year," Chooljian said. "We have a lot of balance from top to bottom."

The Hawks are still getting there.

"Our guys are still struggling with some of the basics," Dannar said. "We've got some fundamental stuff to work on before we can start moving forward."